Device for automatically blowing locomotive whistles



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

G. HESS. DEVICE FOR AUTOMATICALLY BLOWING LOGOMOTIVE WHISTLES. No.369,852., Patented Sept. 13, 1887.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR:

I w-J N. PETERS, Phnlu-Lulm ry mn wmqw mn. DC.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

O. HESS. DEVICE FOR AUTOMATICALLY BLOWING LOGOMOTIVE WHISTLES.

Patented-Sept. 13, 1887.

INVENTOR 4 1 25 BY MAM w ATTORNEYS.

WITNESSES WM V llEtiTEn STATEs PATENT UEETcE.

CHARLES HESS, OF BLOOMFIELD, NEW JERSEY.

DEVICE FORAUTOMATICALLY BLOWING LOCOMOTIVE-WHlSTLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No, 369,852, datedSeptember 13, 1887.

Application filed February 4, 1:87. Serial No 226,547. (No model.)

T0 coZZ whom it may concern:

Beitknown that 1, CHARLES Hnss,of Bloomfield, in the county of Essex andState ofNew Jersey, have invented a new and Improved Device forAutomatically Blowing Locomotive-\Vhistles, of which the following is afull, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to an improvement in devices for automaticallyblowing locomotive-whistlts, and has for its object to provide a meanswhereby a whistle-signal may be given automatically just before reachinga station, or at any predetermined spot along the road, which signal maybe of long or short duration or intervals, as desired, and also toprovide means whereby the signal may be given, as at present, withoutinterfering with the automatic device.

The invention consists in the construction and combination of theseveral parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth, and pointed outin the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar figures of reference indicatecorresponding parts in both the views.

Figure 1 is a section through the cab of a locomotive,illustrating theapplication of my device when the valve is operated at the base of thewhistle; and Fig. 2, the application of the device to a whistle havingthe valve located at the top.

It is the aim of this invention to provide a device adapted forattachment to a loc0motive, whereby a signal or series of signals may beautomatically blown upon the whistle at any predetermined point, whereinthe promptness of the engineer need not be relied upon to give warning,and wherein the said engineer may be himself advised of an approach to astopping place or point where a signal should be given.

To that end a block or series of blocks, 1, having downwardly-inclinedends 2 and a flat face, 3, are secured inside the rail upon one or bothsides of the track, to project slightly above the rail, which blocks maybe of any desired length, number, or distance apart.

Beneath the cab of the locomotive a bracket, 4, is bolted, upon which alever, 5, is centrally fulcrumed, havingjournaled in its lower end awheel, 6. At one side of the bracket 4 a spring, 6, is attached, adaptedto bear upon the said lever 5 between its fulcrum and the wheel. Nearthe uppcr'end of the lever 5 a block, 7, having a beveled face, isattached to the under side of the cab, purposcd to lirnlt the upwardmovement of the lever. The position of the wheel 6 beneath the cab is inalignment centrally with the longitudinal axis of the blocks.

\Vithin the cab 8, near the floor, a second short lever, 9, is pivotedcentrally its length horizontally to one side wall, which lever 9 ispivotally united at one end to the lower lever, 5, by a dividedconnecting-bar, 10, provided with a central attached spring, 11, theother end of the lever 9 being pivoted to a vertical eonnectingbar, 12.

The connecting-bar 12 is provided a convenient distance from its lowerend with a longitudinal slot, 13, through which slot a thumbscrew ismade to pass into a suitable socket secured in the side of the cab. Theupper end of the connectingbar 12 is passed up through the cab-roof andpivoted to ahorizontal lever, 14, fulcrumed centrally upon a studattached to the roof. The free end of the said lever 14 is bent upwardand outward at right angles to engage the end of an L-shaped bar, 15,attached to the under side of the whistle-valve lever 16, which lever,projecting beyond the connected L-shaped bar 15, is provided at its endwith a rod, 17,1eading through the roofinto the cab, whereby thewhistle-valve may be opened in the ordinary manner.

Beneath the lever 14, near its pivoted connection with the bar 12, ablock, 18 is. attached to the cab to limit the downward movement of saidlever 14, and beneath the forward end a spring, 19, is placed, adaptedto return the lever to its normal position.

In operation, as the wheel 6 engages the-top surface of the block orblocks 1, along, short, or intermittent blast of the whistle will beauto matically given, according to the arrangement and length of saidblocks, which is effected as follows: The pressure of the wheel upon theblocks bears down one end of the lever 5, whereupon action is impartedto the horizontal lever 9, and through the connectingbar 12 to theoperating-lever 14, which lever, pressing upon the L-shaped bar 15,bears down the whistle-lever 16, thereby opening the valve of thewhistle. As soon-as the wheel 6 has passed off the block the springs 11and 19 return the levers to their normal position. In the event theautomatic attachment is not desired, the thumb-screw passing through theslot in the connecting-bar 12 is screwed down upon the same, looking itsecurely to the side of the cab. When the wheel'now strikes the blocks,the spring 11 will only operate.

For single-track roads the journal of the wheel 6 may be extendedtransversely the track and properly supported, and two wheels beemployed; or a complete device may be attached at each side of the cab.

In Fig. 2 the attachment of the device with a whistle having its valveat the top is illustrated. In this connection the lever 5 is pivoted toaconnecting-bar, 20, extending through the floor of the cab, having anattached spring, 21, the upper end of which spring is secured to a tube,22, having a handpin at its upper end and a bayonet slot, 23, in oneside. Within the tube 22 one end ofa vertical rod, 24, is entered,having an integral pin, 25, adapted to slide in said slot. The upper endof the rod 24 is carried through the cab-roof and pivoted to a shortlever, 30, fulcrumed thereon, which lever, by means of a cord, 26,passing under a pulley, 27, is connected with the whistle-valve lever28. The said cord may be spliced and the spliced end 29 carried down inthe cab, passing over'a suitable pulley secured to the roof, whereby asignal may be given by hand. I

In operation, when the attachment is employed, the pin 25 is made toenter the lower horizontal portion of the slot 23. When, however, it isdesired to operate the whistle by hand only, the said pin travels in thevertical portion of said slot.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination, with a lever, 5, pivoted beneath a locomotive, avertical connecting-bar having spring-connection with said lever, andmeans of locking said connectingbar, of a lever, 14:,pivoted to saidconnecting-bar and to --the top of the locomotive, and means forconnecting said lever 14 with the lever operating the whistle-valve,substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein set forth.

2. The combination, with a lever pivoted beneath a locomotive, avertical connectingbar having spring-connection with said lever, meansfor locking said connecting-bar, a lever, 14, pivoted to said bar and tothe top of the locomotive, and means for operating the whistie-leverfrom said lever 14., of blocks 1, having flat upper surfaces, 3, andinclined sides 2, secured inside the railroad-rails, said blocks adaptedto project above said rails, substantially as herein shown anddescribed, and for the purpose herein set forth.

CHAS. HESS.

Witnesses:

J. F. AOKER, Jr., E. M. CLARK.

